Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) is a condition that affects ligaments, causing them to become hardened and calcified. Ligaments are made from tough elastic tissue and connect bones to other bones and help stabilise our joints. DISH usually affects the ligaments around the spine.
For many people, the condition does not cause symptoms. But when they occur, symptoms can include stiffness or pain of the spine.
The hardened ligaments can also compress nerves in the spine, causing difficulty swallowing or tingling and numbness in the legs.
For those diagnosed with DISH, treatments are aimed at relieving symptoms. This usually includes medications prescribed by your doctor to help manage pain. Your doctor may also refer you to a physiotherapist for advice about exercises to help manage pain, stiffness and range of motion.
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